Aristotle, Adam Smith, and Martin EP Seligman
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Salve Regina University Digital Commons @ Salve Regina Ph.D. Dissertations (Open Access) Salve's Dissertations and Theses 3-1-2020 Three Perspectives on Happiness, from Ancient to Modern: Aristotle, Adam Smith, and Martin E.P. Seligman Patrick D. Wong Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/phd_dissertations Part of the Philosophy Commons SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY THREE PERSPECTIVES ON HAPPINESS, FROM ANCIENT TO MODERN: ARISTOTLE, ADAM SMITH, AND MARTIN E.P. SELIGMAN A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES PROGRAM IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY PATRICK D. WONG NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND MARCH 2020 SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDIES This dissertation of Patrick D. Wong entitled “Three Perspectives on Happiness, from Ancient to Modern: Aristotle, Adam Smith, and Martin E.P. Seligman” submitted to the Ph.D. Program in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Salve Regina University has been read and approved by the following individuals: Reader 1: Harold Lawber, Ph.D Date:__________ ________________________________________ (Signature) Reader 2: Michael Budd, Ph.D Date:__________ ________________________________________ (Signature) Mentor: Daniel Cowdin, Ph.D Date:__________ ________________________________________ (Signature) Graduate Program Director: ________________________________________ Date:__________ Sean O'Callaghan, Ph.D has been approved by: Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs: ________________________ Date:__________ Nancy G Schreiber, Ph.D ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... vi Dedication .................................................................................................................................... viii Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Salve Regina University Ph.D. Program ..................................................................................... 7 Scholarly Contributions ............................................................................................................... 8 What is Happiness? ..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Aristotle - A Good Life and Happiness ..................................................................................... 18 The Political Animal Inside You ............................................................................................ 19 Ethics and Politics ................................................................................................................. 22 Ethics and Virtue ................................................................................................................... 24 Friendship.............................................................................................................................. 28 The Friendship of Utility ....................................................................................................... 29 The Friendship of Pleasure ................................................................................................... 30 The Friendship of Virtue ....................................................................................................... 33 The kind of person one should be .......................................................................................... 34 Chapter 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 41 Authentic Happiness - Martin Seligman ................................................................................... 41 Is Happiness Possible? .............................................................................................................. 43 Positive Psychology ............................................................................................................... 45 The Authentic Happiness ....................................................................................................... 48 Positive Emotions .................................................................................................................. 49 The Hedonic Treadmill .......................................................................................................... 51 Satisfaction about the Past .................................................................................................... 56 Optimism about the Future .................................................................................................... 58 Happiness in the Present ....................................................................................................... 60 Strengths and Virtues ............................................................................................................ 65 The Signature Strengths ........................................................................................................ 66 The Mansion of Life ............................................................................................................... 72 Love, Marriage & Family ...................................................................................................... 77 Meaning and Purpose............................................................................................................ 82 iii Chapter 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 84 Happiness and The Economic Decision ....................................................................................... 84 Natural Law ............................................................................................................................... 86 Some Broad Generalization – The Emperor Has No Clothes ................................................... 89 Income Inequality and Distribution of Wealth .......................................................................... 90 Adam Smith ................................................................................................................................... 93 The Law of Self Interest ............................................................................................................. 96 The Division of Labor ............................................................................................................. 100 Fairness, Justice, and Equity .................................................................................................. 102 The Globalization and Free Trade .......................................................................................... 106 The Law of Competition .......................................................................................................... 109 The Law of Supply and Demand ............................................................................................. 111 Hannah Arendt ............................................................................................................................ 114 Chapter 5 ..................................................................................................................................... 119 Conclusion - Are We Happy Yet? .............................................................................................. 119 Are Most People Happy? ........................................................................................................ 121 The Happiness Doctrine .......................................................................................................... 123 The Money Factor – Happiness and Inequality .......................................................................... 125 Conclusions and Future Directions ............................................................................................ 129 What can Aristotle teach us about 21st-century happiness? ................................................... 138 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 140 iv Illustrations Figures 3.1 Classification of Character Strengths and Virtues 71 Tables 3.1 Criteria for a Character Strength 70 v Acknowledgments Since completing my DBA, it has been my dream to pursue my Ph.D. My Ph.D. journey is a product of four years of research and contemplation. Lisa, my wife, and Sarah, my daughter, made me believe this degree was within my reach. I could not have accomplished this goal completed this degree without the help and support I received along the way. My sincere gratitude goes to my family, friends, and colleagues for their love, support, and patience over the last four years. I would like to thank the Ph.D. Humanities Department faculty and the faculty of the Department